The Reading Hideaway

Title: Insignia Author: S.J. Kincaid Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Rating: 4 Synopsis (via Goodreads):   The earth is in the middle of WWIII in   Insignia , the first entry in S. J. Kincaid's fast-paced sci-fi adventure trilogy perfect for fans of   Ender's Game .  The planet's natural resources are almost gone, and war is being fought to control the assets of the solar system. The enemy is winning. The salvation may be Tom Raines. Tom doesn't seem like a hero. He's a short fourteen-year-old with bad skin. But he has the virtual-reality gaming skills that make him a phenom behind the controls of the battle drones.  As a new member of the Intrasolar Forces, Tom's life completely changes. Suddenly, he's someone important. He has new opportunities, friends, and a shot at having a girlfriend. But there's a price to pay. Review: I don't normally read sci-fi, but the beauty of Battle of the Books is that I get to explore different genres. N...

Title: The False Prince Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen Publisher: Scholastic Rating: 5 Synopsis (via Goodreads): I n a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.  As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.  An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truth...